John Lapus ‘vindicated’ after Jobert Sucaldito admits false write up

MANILA, Philippines - “ANG SARAP MAVINDICATE!!! URONG KO NA BA?”

This was comedian John “Sweet” Lapus' post on his Twitter account, Monday, Sept. 23, after showbiz scribe and radio commentator Jobert Sucaldito retracted a column published about the comedian two years ago.

To recall, in his tabloid column published on Feb. 19, 2011, Sucaldito claimed Lapus started a ruckus after a Valentine’s Day show inside the comedy bar The Library.

Lapus filed libel charges against Sucaldito the same year in response to the said column.

However, in a tabloid column published on Sunday, Sept. 22, Sucaldito clarified his earlier claim against Lapus.

In his column, Sucaldito revealed that his source for the 2011 column, Kiko Bueno, fabricated his story about Lapus. This was revealed when Bueno denied his statement about Lapus to Sucaldito’s lawyer.

“Mula sa bibig ni Kiko (Bueno) at ng witness nitong si Paul Medina ang mga isinulat ko sa column ko…”

He then adds, “I regret na nasaktan ko ang damdamin ni John Lapus sa column ko na ito. Bilang kolumnista, I just did my job na isulat ang isyu dahil isang celebrity si Lapus – a public figure.”

Sucaldito also says that he understands Lapus’ action to file a case against him, “it’s his right to file a case against anyone in court if he thinks his rights were violated for whatever reason.”

“Karapatan niyang depensahan ang kanyang sarili kung sa tingin niya the written account was not true.”

Sucaldito added he felt “offended” that he was lied to, but said that “this is not new anymore in any business – may mga lies, half-truths at merong fiction. Ayon tuloy, kami ang naglalaban ni John Lapus sa korte.”

He then ended his column with a message for Lapus: “Anyway, one day our paths will cross – me and John – at sana’y nalimutan na namin ang mga bagay-bagay na ito – ang mga sigalot na nangyari sa amin.”

Another Case?

Meanwhile, Lapus was so happy about Sucaldito’s article, Philippine Entertainment Portal reported Monday, September 23.

Yet, there are some questions in his mind: “Bakit ang liit lang ng headline, unlike yung article niya two years ago?”

“Bakit ‘may paglilinaw’ lang ang title? Bakit ang word na ginamit ay ‘regret’? Hindi ba pwedeng ‘sorry’ or ‘apologize’ na lang? Bakit parang ang sinisi ‘yong witness niyang palpak? Gano’n lang ba ‘yon?”

With this, Lapus consulted his followers, who majority said he should continue the case against the columnist. But Lapus has yet to consult with his family about this.

He also revealed that his camp is planning to file a new case against Sucaldito, this time due to the latter’s comments about him in his radio program “Mismo” in DZMM.

The comedian says they already have all the evidence they need if they decide to push through the case.

But there’s something that he’s still considering, “Eh, kaso, balik ABS-CBN na nga ako. Eh, pag gano’n daw, dapat isama din sa demanda ‘yong EP [executive producer] ng DZMM at program head.

“Naging anchor din ako ng DZMM noon, may mga kaibigan ako doon.”

So they’re still deciding if they’ll continue the case or “mag-ask na lang ng apology from him sa show niya sa DZMM na ‘Mismo,’ hora mismo. O, di ba, rhyme?

“Tapos, alam ko, criminal case pa lang itong na-file namin, puwede pa kami mag-file ng civil case.”

As for the two other writers who were included in the libel case namely Ervin Santiago and Eileen Mangubat, Lapus says, “Honestly, forgiving them is the bigger option, especially for the sake of the editor and the publisher, since hindi naman sila ang sumulat.”

Though Lapus has already forgiven Sucaldito, he admits that it won’t be easy for him to forget about what he has done.

He also hopes that this incident will serve as a lesson for all, especially to celebrities like him.